Summer comes to an end

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

Well, it looks like we have finally come to the last official week

of summer, and you can tell, as the mornings have cooled down a bit.

This Sunday is the autumnal equinox. The crowds at the beaches have

toned down and the surf, after weeks and weeks of swell, has finally

simmered down a tad as well. There is, however, still some tropical

activity off Mexico and we could be getting another hurricane swell

this week, by the looks of it.

The last summer showdown for the Del Taco Pro Junior HB Surf

Series went down at the Huntington Pier last weekend. The surf was on

the small side, but the action was still hot as surfers were trying

to wrap up their prospective divisions. The big guns were ripping it

up. Top honors in the pro junior went to Ventura shredder Dane

Reynolds, who pocketed a cool $2,000. Also making the finals in

second was Nate Yeomans, third was Matt King and rounding out the top

four was Brett Schwarts. In the Macho Air final, busting big, was

Huntington Beach’s Brandon Tipton taking the win, while Yeomans made

two finals and finished second. It was also a great showing for

Huntington’s Shaun Ward, who finished third and was fourth in the

overall series of events. In the super groms Jeffrey Schones came in

first but Surf City’s Kyle Kennelly was first overall for the season.

The boys’ division saw Allen Kinkade win it followed by Tyler Newton

and Tommy Steury. Juniors action saw Anthony Duarte blazing to the

win, with Chase Newsom coming in second and taking the overall title.

Huntington’s ripping lifeguard Greg Eisele won the men’s and the

overall title. Master blaster Marc Austin won again and took the

overall season points race, as did Lauren Sweeny in women’s and Steve

Newton in longboarding.

Congratulations to all who participated and placed. So another

great season by contest director Seth Matson, who already has the

next 2003 season dates slated. For more information call (714)

596-5019 or go to www.hbsurfseries.com.

Looking back, I think the best day of the whole summer, surf and

surfing-wise, had to be Monday, Sept. 9, when the southern hemi hit

big time. I heard Lowers was going off the scale. The surf was double

overhead and perfect for the Champion Tour. The rights and lefts were

peeling perfectly. “P.T.” Peter Townend, former World Surf Champ,

said it was the best surfing he’s ever seen in the United States and

he’s seen lots. Guys were averaging eights and above. “Big D,” Dante

Giuliano, the U.S. Open director, said the Expression Session was

going nuts down there, six-time world champ Kelly Slater taking it

with a huge, double hand, rail grab, slingshot air over a big

section. Hawaiian Sunny Garcia was doing these giant, power carving,

lip bashes throwing 20-foot sprays. Aussie Taj Burrow was ripping

some mean sections apart and throwing some airs too. And Shane

Beschen was going looney, busting big time. Whoa, a top-10 day. See

ya.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a seven-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing for the last nine years and has

been the KROQ-FM (106.7) surfologist for the last 17 years, where

he’s done morning surf reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street.

You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.